California Highway Patrol investigators on Tuesday interviewed two possible witnesses to last week's fatal crash involving a bicyclist and a big-rig on Alpine Road, but have yet to talk with anyone who actually saw the collision take place, a CHP spokesman said

Lauren Perdriau Ward, a 47-year-old Los Altos Hills woman, was killed in the crash at about 3:40 p.m. Thursday. Both Ward and the big rig were traveling west toward the Interstate 280 underpass near Portola Valley when her pink Trek bicycle and the 26-wheeler collided.

Only three potential witnesses have contacted the CHP since the collision, but it doesn't appear any of them actually saw the crash, said CHP Officer Art Montiel. They witnessed the aftermath of the collision, he noted.

A CHP investigator interviewed two of the witnesses Tuesday and is still trying to contact the third.

"It's going to be tougher without eyewitnesses," Montiel said. "We have nothing to compare the driver's statement to."

The driver of the big-rig stopped after the crash and hasn't been charged with a crime. While Montiel said it appears to be a "tragic accident," authorities aren't releasing details about the driver's statement; they want to avoid influencing what other witnesses might have to say.

Safety improvements eyed

As the investigation continued Tuesday, bicycle advocates and local officials brainstormed ways to boost safety around the Alpine Road and Interstate 280 interchange.

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Steve Schmidt, a member of the San Mateo City/County Association of Governments' Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and a former Menlo Park mayor, organized a meeting Tuesday morning with three other bicycle and pedestrian advocates and two transportation representatives from the county.

The group gathered near the scene of the fatal crash and watched traffic on westbound Alpine Road approaching the highway.

"We saw all kinds of ways for how cyclists negotiate the roadway," Schmidt said. "I think there needs to be paint on the roadway that instructs both motorists and cyclists as to what's going on and where to expect cyclists to be and where to expect motorists to be."

Schmidt said the group discussed ways to improve safety on Alpine, including adding a "pocket lane." Such lanes exist where Page Mill and Sand Hill roads intersect with Interstate 280.

Diana Shu, roads operation manager for San Mateo County, and Robin DuSaint, an associate civil engineer, attended the meeting.

"We certainly are interested in (the committee's) recommendations," said Shu, adding that Caltrans has jurisdiction over the area where the fatal accident occurred and would have to approve any changes.

Shu said the county will likely wait for the CHP to finish its investigation before developing any possible safety improvements for the road. The county would ask for feedback from bicycle advocates before pitching them to Caltrans, she said.

According to Montiel, the investigation into the fatal crash could take a couple of months. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call the CHP at 650-369-6261.